JAMMU, MAY 01: To mark the 35th death anniversary of the eminent poet, freedom fighter and cultural icon, Sarwanand Koul Premi, the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organized a literary meet at K.L. Saigal Hall, Jammu.
The event was participated by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary as the chief guest, with Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Culture and Professor Ratan Lal Hangloo, former Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University, as the guests of honour.
The program commenced with floral tributes offered by the dignitaries in honour of Sarwanand Koul Premi, paying homage to his multifaceted contributions to literature and society.
In his keynote address, the Chief Secretary highlighted Premi Ji’s unparalleled legacy as a literary luminary and a symbol of social harmony and resistance. Recalling the honours conferred upon him, he mentioned the Sharada Award (2006) and the First Alag Samman (2016), along with the monograph published by Sahitya Akademi in 2008 and the special felicitation by JKAACL in 2018. “He was a voice of resistance and unity, embodying truth, duty, and deep humanism,” said the Chief Secretary.
Quoting Dr. Sohan Lal, he added, “Death is not an end but a transformation, what is true lives on forever.”
Principal Secretary, Department of Culture, in his address, underlined the importance of preserving and promoting the ideals Premi Ji stood for, especially in today’s context of cultural resurgence.
Professor Ratan Lal Hangloo lauded the commitment of the legendary poet to inclusive values and intellectual integrity. He stressed the need for young scholars to revisit the works of such towering figures to understand the interplay of literature, activism and cultural identity.
Earlier, Harvinder Kour, Secretary, JKAACL, spoke on the inspirational life of Sarwanand Koul Premi, emphasizing his enduring impact on the cultural ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.
The literary session featured a detailed paper presentation by Dr. Sohan Lal Koul, Sahitya Akademi Awardee, shedding light on various dimensions of Premi Ji’s literary oeuvre.
Avtar Mota also presented a paper, exploring Sarwanand Koul Premi’s life as a social activist, poet and visionary thinker.
The event also included a Mushaira, where celebrated poets including Ashok Gowher, Dr. Ramesh Nirash, Satish Koul, Santosh Nadam, B.K. Sanyasi, KusumDhar, Rajni Bahar Dhar, and Maharaj Krishan Bhat recited poems paying tribute to the legacy of Sarwanand Koul Premi.
